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Highlights
- Metaphor: ReFantazio will be a new game from Atlus, departing from the high school setting in favor of a global scale.
- The game features a voiced protagonist, a departure from the silent protagonists of the Persona and Megami Tensei series.
- The changes in Metaphor may potentially influence the future of Atlus as a whole, including the possibility of a voiced protagonist in Persona 6.
It’s still unknown when Persona 6 will come from Atlus, but a new game in the form of Metaphor: ReFantazio is certain to be coming later next year in the meantime. While seemingly an expansion on several of the concepts in the mainline Persona games, Metaphor is set to leave the high school setting behind in favor of a global scale. There are several key contributors to the greater Megami Tensei franchise working on Metaphor, it appears to actually be a completely separate IP. While it may share many fundamental similarities with most modern Atlus releases, Metaphor‘s protagonist has already been established to set it apart in a cinematic way.
The protagonists of the Persona series as a whole have always served as more of a vehicle for the player and less as developed characters of their own, and even Persona 5‘s Joker shares this quality while still having an interesting backstory. Persona 6 is expected to follow a similar formula, but Metaphor has shown a new side to Atlus’ approach to presentation through voice acting.
Strictly speaking, Metaphor isn’t a Persona or Shin Megami Tensei game, and Atlus’ other games have had protagonists speak before.
What Project Re Fantasy Rumors Got Right and Wrong About Metaphor: ReFantazio
With Metaphor: ReFantazio’s reveal, many of the game’s rumors can finally be put to rest as some were right but most were not.
An Innovative Change to the Atlus Formula
Despite the emotional depth of some Persona‘s best Confidants and Social Links, the protagonist’s expression has always been limited to relative silence. The Megami Tensei games tend to share this trait, with their emphasis on combat having shaped the style of spin-offs like the Persona series. The reveal of Metaphor, however, has shown off a departure from this approach as one of several experimental new elements.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Seems to Separate Itself
Having a mix between turn-based and real-time combat systems was already a surprising twist, but having a voiced protagonist is a shift that could make Metaphor‘s presentation the developer’s most cinematic yet. While the gameplay of Atlus’ Soul Hackers 2 hasn’t quite established itself as a pillar of Megami Tensei to the same extent as Persona, the choice to use more voice acting in Metaphor may have been inspired by the style of that game’s protagonist, Ringo.
The Implications of Persona 6’s Protagonist
There hasn’t been a recent update regarding where the next Persona is at in terms of development, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see its protagonist also feature a voice if Metaphor becomes the success Atlus seems to be hoping for. The addition of a voice and a more distinct identity for the player in Metaphor seemed to have a larger meaning in development, as highlighted by designer Shigenori Soejima in an interview with Weekly Famitsu as seen on Persona Central:
While there is a “player = protagonist” dynamic, the protagonist isn’t simply a blank slate. I designed him as an androgynous young man with a gentle yet intriguing aura, possessing a with a strong gaze. In the case of a fantasy project, if the protagonist is already fully immersed in that world from the beginning, players may find it difficult to see the world from the same perspective. Interpreting the world in their own way is part of the charm of fantasy…
The Potential for Distinct Franchises Under Atlus
While it could be a natural progression to allow the next playable character of Persona to have their own proper voice in dialogue, there’s still a chance that Metaphor‘s changes represent something different for the future. Given the several experimental shifts from the core formula of its typical releases, Atlus likely intends for Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s gameplay to stand on its own in the long run.
A voiced protagonist in Persona 6 would be a compelling addition to the series, but leaving conversations to the player’s interpretation could remain a creative decision. Regardless of the direction Persona 6 goes when it is eventually revealed, the risks Metaphor is taking are likely to allow it to stand out and possibly influence the future of Atlus as a whole.
Persona 5 Royal
$30 $60 Save $30
Persona 5 Royal acts as the definitive edition of the beloved RPG experience from Atlus. Players will once again hop into the shoes of Joker and his crew, with access to both the base game and over 40+ items worth of DLC content. Players are able to explore Tokyo in a new way, unlock Personas, and customize the Thieves Den to meet their needs. The novel storyline also has multiple endings, bringing more replay value to the table.
- Released
- March 31, 2020
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 100 Hours
- Metascore
- 95
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
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